228 The Hall (2/2)

The shorter, dwarf-related people of Montagne, their thick, plated iron armor clanging with their rough but quick movements. Lightly armored knights from Trieste, the city's signature weapon of rapiers scabbarded at their hips. The elite knights of the capitol city of Eclat were here as well, their golden armor shining resplendently under the morning sun.

There were foreign faces too.

Mercenaries from the vassal city state of Enna located in Duvin – the same type that had stood guard outside the Pearl. Heavily muscled beastmen and women from the few errant tribes that lived in the deep south of the duchy, specifically in Duvin which had yet to be developed fully by man on account of the ferocity of its monsters and environment.

These were not the northern beastmen that Li was familiar with for sure. Their animal bases were what he would describe as sturdier and more pronounced.

Rhinokin, Loxodons (part-elephant), Aarakocra that were like harpies but far more inhuman, their heads avian and their entire bodies covered in feathers that could stiffen into bristle-like blades instantly, and the like.

They were far more beast than man, towering over the human knights and exuding a feral presence that made sure that other than members of their own race, nobody approached them.

What caught Li's eye especially was a group of raucous humans that made their way down the stairs, passing him by and smelling strongly of unwashed sweat and alcohol. They were enormous by human standards, almost as tall as the blood legionnaires, and just as wide with muscle. They did not don armor, however, instead only wearing skins and bearing tribal tattoos across their bodies.

Northmen. Just like Old Thane. Though, unsurprisingly, far paler for they were unused to the strong sun of the south.

It occurred to Li how limited his experience had been so far in this world. He had only ever stayed in Riviera, at his farm, and though he was slowly expanding his interests, it was still a compelling sight to see that there was, indeed, a whole wide world filled with many different races and cultures outside.

”Wow,” muttered Tia as she cocked her head this way and that, trying to gain a glimpse of every single new and strange face. ”Many, many, many strange people! Big horn person, long nose man, even fish man!”

She pointed a clawed hand to a Merman that was scaling the steps nearby Li.

Or rather, half-merman, it seemed, because he had legs instead of the traditional piscine lower bodies of pure mermen. The merman scrunched his scaled brows, feeling uncomfortable at suddenly being pointed out.

”Stop that, Tia, the pointing might be rude to other people,” said Li gently.

”Oh, sorry, papa,” said Tia. She looked to the merman. ”Sorry, fish man.”

Li blinked, wondering if the half merman would take that in offense.

The half merman instead laughed. ”Apology accepted, child.”

His voice was far, far older than what his youthful physique might have suggested. It had a croaky undertone to it that felt like it belonged to a grey bearded, wilting old man, not a tall, muscle-bound and trident wielding warrior.

”Thank you for understanding,” said Li with a nod. ”Far from home, are we not?”

”Home is where the coin is,” shrugged the merman. ”And by the sea spirits, this job will make me wealthy beyond belief. If those grubby Triestan contractors are not planning to cheat me, that is.”

”And if they do?”

The merman bared a grin filled with shark-like teeth. He held up his trident. ”Then they will have to pay far more coin in hired muscle to fend me off. But you, Easterner, are you not the farthest from home?”

Li shrugged. ”They say that home is where the heart is.” He felt Tia's arms around his neck, her precious warmth, and smiled ever so slightly. ”I suppose that's how it is for me.”

”Heh, a romantic, eh?” The merman paused, and the gills on his neck flared. ”And yet, you've the walk of a man ready for war. I am eager to see how you will do upon the battlefield. But for now, I have to deal with this blasted sun. I hope to see you on the march today. It is not often I see another that does not belong to this continent.”

The merman reached to his hip and unclasped a sizable canteen from a belt. He unscrewed it and poured water over himself to keep his skin glistening with hydration.

Li left the merman behind with a shrug.

”Romantic?” asked Tia.

”He means,” said Li rather quickly. ”That I am very hopeful about things.”

”Hope good,” nodded Tia. ”With papa, there is always hope.”

”I'm glad you feel that way, Tia,” said Li as he made his way up the final stretch of stairs. One thing the merman had said stuck in his head: the fact that the armies were going to be marching as early as today.